Floods in Hazyview - Update

Friday 20th January, 2012.

Many would have seen the news of the torrential downpour experienced in the Lowveld with Hazyview and Kruger National Park being some of the areas severely effected. Mpumalanga Province as a region has been affected.

Well today the weather has cleared and there is no sign of rain in the Hazyview area. Kruger National Park had been closed for a few days but has now reopened although there are a number of gravel/dirt roads still closed to vehicles - as the water levels subside these roads should be reopened although many may need repair.

Guests staying with us have been able to go on Safari on to Kruger National Park today so that at least is back on track.

Here's a picture taken from the back door of the main Lodge here at Blue Jay, overlooking the driveway entrance - this was taken the day before yesterday when the rain was torrential.

Quite daunting to drive on as our driveway is on a slope but as we say to our Guests at least it doesn't snow here!

As to whether (no pun intended) we have had 200 or 300 or 400mm of rain this week is hard to gauge (still no pun intended) as our rain gauge only measures up to 100mm at a time - all we know is every time we checked the gauge its was full and on 100mm - and we checked 4 times - what we can say is that we have had a lot of rain.

Through it all we still were and continue to be warm wearing shorts and T-shirts which is a plus - temperatures being in the mid 20's.

Rhino - Black or White

We managed to go into Kruger National Park yesterday, saw lots but only one Rhino. Given all the poaching and almost 300 Rhinos killed for their horns this year alone it was  indeed an excellent sighting.


Magnificent Creatures they are and this one is WHAT? - a Black or White Rhino? Send your thoughts to bluejay@bluejaylodge.co.za

Also saw lots of Giraffe, this one was behind us hence the mirror view

All this only 10 minutes away from Blue Jay Lodge

On Guard

We have a new look out posted here at Blue Jay, his task being to spot the birds and advise us of Guests arriving.

Great new member of staff it must be said, he is always vigilant and his vantage point from the roof of the main Lodge gives him a 360 degree view over the property. His early warning signals are amazing and we are most happy with his performance so far - particularly as he is cheap to employ - his only wages being fruit from the trees on the property.

Welcome Adonis to the Blue Jay Team!

On Honeymoon

We are known for a romantic getaway here at Blue Jay and have many honeymooners staying with us.
Recently in Kruger National Park, 10 minutes from us, we saw these Lions on Honeymoon!!

Lions on Honeymoon

Safari - Kruger National Park

It's not often we get the chance to do a self drive Safari into Kruger National Park but when we do get the chance we grab it with both hands - time is always limited for us so we need to plan a 4 to 5 hour trip maximum and here's what we do:

At 6 am Enter Phabeni Gate, 10 kms away from Blue Jay
Stay on the S1 tar road, also known as the Doispane Raod, heading towards Skukuza.

First stop off is at the Nyamundwa Dam about 20 kms in from Phabeni Gate for coffee and to take in the early sunrise view:

Continue along the Doispane Road, direction Skukuza and 4 kilometers from Skukuza there will be a turning for Lake Panic to your left, it's a gravel road and signposted.

Lake panic is one of those spots in Kruger that is very special - it's not a rest camp so having stopped in the veld, you can get out of your car - but then you don't hang around as you are in the bush and animals are about - you then make a dash for a gate and fenced walkway (offering protection) that leads you down to a Hide overlooking an amazing expanse of water called Lake Panic.

Not sure why it is called Lake Panic - our theory is that perhaps it describes the necessary mad dash from your vehicle to the gate and fenced walkway.

The best times are early morning to visit Lake Panic - hippos, crocodiles and the most stunning bird life can be seen. The serious photographers with very good cameras and huge lenses will always be seen at lake Panic as it is a photographer's paradise.  Our camera does not have one of those huge lenses (needing 2 people to carry them), so do appreciate that when you see the photos we took yesterday morning.

So this little Safari continues from Lake Panic, joining up with H1-1 going South and then continuing West on the same road and exiting at Numbi Gate - an excellent Self Drive Safari.

Sunrise in the Slowveld

Sometimes the Lowveld is also known as the Slowveld and then Hazyview is also known as  Lazyview.

All of these descriptions really describe the way of life here - measured, at a nice pace, peaceful and beautiful - the wildlife (and us) wake up to yet another stunning sunrise heralding another spectacular day in the Lowveld as well as here at Blue Jay - where Tranquility Amongst the Trees awaits with Wildlife in the Kruger National Park only 10kms away.

Sabi Sands Night Wildlife Safari

Often recommended to guests and organised by ourselves is a Sabi Sands Night Wildlife Safari - an open 4X4 Vehicle collects you here at Blue Jay around 2.30pm and then takes you in to a private game reserve in Sabi Sands where off roading is allowed - in other words if there is a leopard in a tree the guide and tracker will take you there in the vehicle for a very special and up close viewing. The safari goes into the night so the experience of Africa and the wild at night is an additional bonus - all followed by a bush dinner under the canopy of bright stars. You return to Blue Jay and well deserved sleep around 10.30pm.

Here's a few pictures from our Safari into Sabi Sands this week: